Accor signs Serena Williams for the Australian Open plus three-year partnership with Tennis Australia

Named World number one eight times, Serena Williams holds 39 major titles and is a role model for female empowerment, making her “the perfect Ambassador for AccorHotels”, according to CEO Michael Issenberg.

“We are so excited to continue our relationship with Serena and the Australian Open,” said Michael Issenberg, chairman & CEO AccorHotels Asia Pacific. “There are few sportspeople in the world as aspirational as Serena and the Australian Open remains one of the most watched tennis events in the world, so it was a simple decision for us to extend this valuable partnership.”

AccorHotels has signed an exclusive three-year deal with Tennis Australia as the exclusive Hotel Accommodation Partner of the Australian Open, and with Serena Williams as Official Ambassador in Australia over the January Grand Slam event.

“We are so excited to continue our relationship with Serena and the Australian Open,” said Michael Issenberg, chairman & CEO AccorHotels Asia Pacific. “There are few sportspeople in the world as aspirational as Serena and the Australian Open remains one of the most watched tennis events in the world, so it was a simple decision for us to extend this valuable partnership.”

With over a billion viewers on television and around 750,000 visitors, he added that the event is “the perfect vehicle to help put Australia under the global spotlight.”

The multi-million dollar deal means that AccorHotels, as an Official Partner of the Australian Open, will have access to tickets for VIPs, media and LeClub AccorHotels loyalty members for the event, as well as opportunities to provide behind-the-scenes tours, trophy appearances at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, speaking engagements with former players and brand activations at the event.

According to CEO of Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley, the Australian Open contributed over $280 million to the Victorian economy last year.

AccorHotels is the largest hotel operator in Australia, with 339 hotels across the country, including over 60 in Victoria alone and more than 1000 across Asia Pacific.